NILES — A man who the assistant prosecuting attorney said committed a crime against a child that “doesn’t get any lower” was sentenced Monday in Berrien County Trial Court.

Anthony Lavall Hamilton Jr., 35, of Florida and formerly of Niles, was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct of a child between 13 and 15 years of age. He pleaded guilty to the felony offense on June 27.

Judge Charles LaSata sentenced him to serve a minimum of seven to a maximum of 15 years in a Michigan State Prison. Hamilton has credit for 94 days served.

The victim disclosed the crime to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department.

During the court proceeding Monday, the victim’s mom spoke out and described how severely Hamilton’s actions had harmed her family.

“For him to do something like this, it really hurts,” she said. “This has really torn my family a part. It never should have taken place.”

Berrien County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jerry Vigansky said Hamilton deserved as much time as possible in prison. He called the crime “despicable.”

“It doesn’t get any lower than that,” Vigansky said. “Actually, this is beyond even low. It is in the ground underneath the rocks.”

Defense attorney Scott Sanford said his client had regularly maintained employment, up until his arrest, and that his record was not “extensive.”

Hamilton asked the judge for mercy when it was his turn to speak. He said he “genuinely” apologized to the victim.

“I have been incarcerated in Berrien County for 90 days and it’s taught me a lot,” Hamilton said. “The main thing I have been told is that I need to start making better life choices. All I ask is for one chance is to get back to that and try to make things right. I could do house arrest or KPEP or probation … all I ask is just this one last chance. If I could just please be shown mercy today.”

LaSata referred back to Hamilton’s record and stated that Hamilton had warrants out in Florida and Indiana. While LaSata said he had faith that the victim would recover, he said Hamilton had clearly caused the victim pain.

“You seriously, seriously side tracked her,” LaSata said. “I am going to put a stop to it.”

Also sentenced Monday:

• Dominic Eugene Weldy, 26, was charged with tampering with an electronic monitoring device. He pleaded guilty to the charge on July 3.

• Jamie Lee Scott, 36, of Niles,  was charged with delivering and manufacturing a controlled substance and delinquency of a minor. She pleaded guilty to the charges on June 20. She was sentenced to two years of felony probation, 20 days in jail for the first offense and 15 days in jail for the second offense.